Mercer County, Missouri Genealogy
Guide to Mercer County, Missouri ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for John Francis Mercer. The county is located in the northern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Mercer County Courthouse
802 E Main Street
Princeton, MO 64673
Phone: 660-748-3425
Mercer County Website
County Clerk has birth records 1883-1894 and death records 1883-1891.
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, court, land records.
Circuit Court, Division 2, has probate records.[3]
Mercer County, Missouri Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1883 | 1898 | 1883 | 1868 | 1846 | 1849 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
1898 Fire burned the courthouse on March 24, 1898, destroying some records. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
|
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places in Mercer County, MO, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator.
The State Historical Society of Missouri has information on historical Missouri place names for all 114 Missouri Counties.
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
|
||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- The Crime of Ira Sexton : containing Life history and last statements by Himself. [S.l. : s.n., 1898?]. Available online at FamilySearch
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- Missouri Cemeteries Missouri Access Genealogy
- ?-2008 Cemetery records of Mercer County, Missouri by cemetery and by surname
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 2,691 | — |
| 1860 | 9,300 | 245.6% |
| 1870 | 11,557 | 24.3% |
| 1880 | 14,673 | 27.0% |
| 1890 | 14,581 | −0.6% |
| 1900 | 14,706 | 0.9% |
| 1910 | 12,335 | −16.1% |
| 1920 | 11,281 | −8.5% |
| 1930 | 9,350 | −17.1% |
| 1940 | 8,766 | −6.2% |
| 1950 | 7,235 | −17.5% |
| 1960 | 5,750 | −20.5% |
| 1970 | 4,910 | −14.6% |
| 1980 | 4,685 | −4.6% |
| 1990 | 3,723 | −20.5% |
| 2000 | 3,757 | 0.9% |
| 2010 | 3,785 | 0.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1732-1933 Missouri State and Territorial Census Records, 1732-1933 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- Index of Mercer County, Missouri census records 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 censues of Mercer County. Includes 1922 Atlas/Plat book Mercer Co. Mo. with index of landowners.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Missouri denominations, view the Missouri Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Catholic
Princeton
- 1871-1876 Princeton Catholic Church Baptism Index 1871-1876. Batch C511521 at FamilySearch.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Missouri Land and Property for information about records of land transfers from the government to private ownership. After that transfer, transactions were usually recorded and are currently housed at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Mercer County, Missouri Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Missouri Local Histories.
- A Brief History of Mercer County, Missouri. n.d. n.p.: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch
- History of Mercer County, Missouri. 1911. n.d.: n.d. Online at: FamilySearch
- History of Missouri's Counties, County Seats, and Courthouse Squares. 1983. by Marian M. Ohman. Missouri: Missouri State Library. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- Mercer Centennial, 1872-1972. 1972. Princeton, Missouri: Mercer County Genealogical & Historical Society. Online at: FamilySearch
- Rogers' souvenir history of Mercer County, Missouri. 1911. By W. B. Rogers. Trenton, Missouri: W. B. Rogers Printing Company. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- State of Missouri: an autobiography. 1904. By Walter Williams. Columbia, Mo: Press of E. W. Stephens. Online at: Missouri Digital History
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
- Map of Mercer County townships (Histopolis)
- Missouri As It Is In 1867. 1867. by Nathan II. Parker. Philadelpia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Online at: Missouri Digital History
- The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all Missouri counties including Mercer County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.
- An Illustrated Historical atlas of Mercer County, Mo. at Missouri Digital Heritage
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- 1900-1941 Missouri, Pre-WWII Adjutant General Enlistment Contracts, 1900-1941 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Missouri, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1911-1938 Missouri, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers Home Applications, 1911-1938 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Regiments
Service men in Mercer County, Missouri served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Mercer County, Missouri:
|
|
World War I[edit | edit source]
- A History of the boys of Mercer County, Mo. : a fond tribute to our heroic sons who took part in the World War 1917-1918-1919 Mercer, Mo. : W.H. Lowry, [192-? Includes an alphabetical listing of soldiers, sailors and marines from Grundy County
World War II[edit | edit source]
- 1940-1945 Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1941-1946 Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Missouri Digital Newspaper Project at Missouri State Historical Society
- 1800s-Current Missouri, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information, see United States Probate Records.
In Missouri, probate records have usually been recorded by the clerks of the probate courts, but in some counties the common pleas or circuit courts handled this function. They are frequently indexed.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1750-1988 Missouri Probate Records 1750-1998 at FamilySearch — images- How to Use this Collection
- 1766-1988 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Missouri Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. For additional guidance on researching and using vital records, see United States Vital Records or How to order Missouri Vital Records.
St. Louis and Kansas City recorded births and deaths starting as early as 1850 for deaths and 1870 for births. The Missouri Department of Health began keeping birth and death records in 1909. County records vary by year and the county. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Missouri Vital Records State Department of Health, the County Clerk's office or order electronically online.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- Pre-1910 Missouri Birth and Death Records Database, Pre-1910 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index.
- 1817-1939 Missouri Births, 1817-1939 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1827-1935 Missouri, Births and Christenings, 1827-1935 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1910 Missouri Birth Records, 1851-1910 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1883-1894 Mercer County Birth Index 1883-1894. Batches C515455 and C515456 at FamilySearch.[7]
- 1910-2022 Missouri, Birth Index, 1920-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1910-Onward Missouri Births at MyHeritage — index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1750-1920 Missouri, Marriages, 1750-1920 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1776-1988 Missouri, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-1991 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1805-2002 Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 at Ancestry ($)
- 1844-1885 - Mercer County Marriage Book A Index 1844-1885. Batch M515421 at FamilySearch.
- 1850 Missouri Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1898-1932 Mercer Co. Missouri index of marriage books A, G, H, I and J listed by grooms and by brides
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1834-1910 Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1867-1976 Missouri, Deaths and Burials, 1867-1976 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1883-1894 Mercer County Death Index 1883-1894. Batch B515455 at FamilySearch.
- 1883-1930 Missouri Deaths, 1883-1930 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1910-1960 Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969 at Missouri Digital Heritage - index & images.
- 1968-2022 Missouri, Death Index, 1968-2015 at Reclaim the Records — index; Also at: MyHeritage ($); Ancestry ($)
- 1968-Onward Missouri, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1801-Onward Missouri, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Mercer County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Chillicothe Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Gallatin Missouri FamilySearch Center
- Trenton Missouri FamilySearch Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Mercer County. For state-wide library facilities, see Missouri Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Mercer County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Missouri Societies.
Mercer County Genealogical and Historical Society
P.O. Box 97
Princeton, MO 64673
Phone: 660-748-3725
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Missouri Digital Heritage. Digital images of many types of records from institutions across the State.
- MOGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mercer County, Missouri," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_Missouri, accessed 9/12/2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mercer County, Missouri. Page 397-407 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 393-397.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Missouri. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mercer County, Missouri," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, Mercer County Missouri, accessed Oct 2019.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d8/Igimissourij.pdf.